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Aaron Burr #1
Aaron Burr: The Years from Princeton to Vice President, 1756-1805
An account of Burr's formative years seeks to answer the contemporary charges against him of moral obtuseness, political opportunism, and excessive ambition, presenting him as politically inept, fatally unsuspicious, and intellectually superior and proud.
443 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1979
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About the author
Milton Lomask
89 books3 followersRaised in Maquoketa, Iowa, Milton Nachman Lomask earned a BA in journalism at the University of Iowa. After working in a succession of newspaper jobs in Texas, St. Louis, New York City and Chicago, he earned an MA degree at Northwestern University in 1941. Lomask served in the United States Army's Chemical Warfare Service during World War II, after which he worked in advertising and publicity before quitting in 1950 to work full-time as a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 7, 2021
This two volume biography of Aaron Burr is somewhat of a monster at over 770 pages, but it is captivating and fascinating. Descended from American aristocracy -- his maternal grandfather was Jonathan Edwards and his own father the President of Princeton -- Burr was a tragic / comic figure. As a lawyer and a political organizer, he was brilliant. As a politician, at least until he became VP and was marginalized by Jefferson, he was effective. But, he was flawed, always scheming, always trying to make a quick buck, always borrowing and trying to outrun his creditors, and -- when he was not married -- womanizing. Yet as a father and a husband and surrogate father in later life, he was kind and doting.
Some of his failures were caused by his own impulses and naivete. However, some of the more spectacular events of his life -- his failure of as a Vice President, his killing of Hamilton in a duel, and the alleged treason he committed, resulting in his celebrated trial and acquittal -- were more of a piece of being outmaneuvered than they were self-defeating. Although brilliant in many respects, he lacked a certain amount of commonsense in others. Vignettes of a 4 year exile in Europe after the treason trial in which he traveled in rarefied circles and tried to communicate with Napoleon are fascinating.
Although the writing in places is sometimes as pompous as the subject of this biography, it is well-written and researched and held my interest. It accomplished what I wished was to understand who Burr was and why he became vilified.
Some of his failures were caused by his own impulses and naivete. However, some of the more spectacular events of his life -- his failure of as a Vice President, his killing of Hamilton in a duel, and the alleged treason he committed, resulting in his celebrated trial and acquittal -- were more of a piece of being outmaneuvered than they were self-defeating. Although brilliant in many respects, he lacked a certain amount of commonsense in others. Vignettes of a 4 year exile in Europe after the treason trial in which he traveled in rarefied circles and tried to communicate with Napoleon are fascinating.
Although the writing in places is sometimes as pompous as the subject of this biography, it is well-written and researched and held my interest. It accomplished what I wished was to understand who Burr was and why he became vilified.
May 21, 2023
The main reason to read this was to look into the suggestion some are making that Burr stole the election of 1800 in New York. At least per this book, the verdict would be no. Although he went to extreme efforts such as publishing a newspaper, provided rides to the polls, intelligently chose excellent candidates (especially in comparison to Hamilton's motley crew of shopkeepers), and so on, there does not appear to be anything illegal here. But fortunately the rest of the book was very interesting reading as well.
Although written much earlier, this is kind of a corrective to that other biography, Fallen Founder. While the latter work tries to depict Burr as some kind of misunderstood big picture thinker, this book presents a great deal of evidence to the contrary that somehow did not make it into the other book, which apparently cherrypicked extensively. It's not that this book takes an explicit view on the question, but the direct evidence of things Burr said and did make the picture much clearer.
The author has an admirably laconic way of writing exactly what you want to know and without any unnecessary words. I appreciate that as it seems to be becoming rarer.
Interesting tidbits:
When Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton undertook their first legal case together, they discussed who would speak last, the most prestigious position. Hamilton said he deserved it. Burr acquiesced. When it was time to speak, Burr spoke his points, and then spoke all of Hamilton's points as well. An embarrassed Hamilton got up and had very little to say. After that there were no more disputes about who would speak last.
"Burr's mind was on the whole an unsuspicious one. Little inclined to harbor malice, he was slow to spot it in others - too slow, on occasion, to protect himself against it. No one detected this quality in him more shrewdly than Andrew Jackson, or better expressed it. 'Burr', the Tennesseean once remarked, 'is as far from a fool as I ever saw, and yet he is as easily fooled as any man I ever knew.' Too wrapped up in himself to see other men clearly, Burr lacked that touch of paranoia so essential to success in politics."
"Hamilton was the more open of the two. What he thought, he said - not infrequently to his personal detriment. Of the precise tenor of Burr's thought, no one, with the possible exception of his wife and daughter, was ever altogether certain. Hamilton's pen was as unrestrained as his tongue. He was forever putting his frequently changing beliefs and even his feelings into print. Burr preferred to keep his own counsel; it pleased him to be an enigma."
When Burr returned to Washington after the duel, he was shunned by Federalists, but welcomed warmly by all Republicans. Jefferson had him over for dinner more times in a few weeks than he had in the previous three years. Gallatin was seen waiting on him. Madison went to see him. Was it because of their feelings about Hamilton's demise? No. The reason was that they were about to start the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase, over which Burr, as president of the Senate, would preside. Burr would have to make a thousand rulings about which questions could be asked, what evidence could be introduced and so on, and they wanted to be sure he was on their side. However, Burr conducted the case with exemplary fairness. Chase was acquitted. To top it off, there was a tied vote in the Senate over whether to create a military academy. Burr opposed the administration and voted no to that as well.
Although written much earlier, this is kind of a corrective to that other biography, Fallen Founder. While the latter work tries to depict Burr as some kind of misunderstood big picture thinker, this book presents a great deal of evidence to the contrary that somehow did not make it into the other book, which apparently cherrypicked extensively. It's not that this book takes an explicit view on the question, but the direct evidence of things Burr said and did make the picture much clearer.
The author has an admirably laconic way of writing exactly what you want to know and without any unnecessary words. I appreciate that as it seems to be becoming rarer.
Interesting tidbits:
When Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton undertook their first legal case together, they discussed who would speak last, the most prestigious position. Hamilton said he deserved it. Burr acquiesced. When it was time to speak, Burr spoke his points, and then spoke all of Hamilton's points as well. An embarrassed Hamilton got up and had very little to say. After that there were no more disputes about who would speak last.
"Burr's mind was on the whole an unsuspicious one. Little inclined to harbor malice, he was slow to spot it in others - too slow, on occasion, to protect himself against it. No one detected this quality in him more shrewdly than Andrew Jackson, or better expressed it. 'Burr', the Tennesseean once remarked, 'is as far from a fool as I ever saw, and yet he is as easily fooled as any man I ever knew.' Too wrapped up in himself to see other men clearly, Burr lacked that touch of paranoia so essential to success in politics."
"Hamilton was the more open of the two. What he thought, he said - not infrequently to his personal detriment. Of the precise tenor of Burr's thought, no one, with the possible exception of his wife and daughter, was ever altogether certain. Hamilton's pen was as unrestrained as his tongue. He was forever putting his frequently changing beliefs and even his feelings into print. Burr preferred to keep his own counsel; it pleased him to be an enigma."
When Burr returned to Washington after the duel, he was shunned by Federalists, but welcomed warmly by all Republicans. Jefferson had him over for dinner more times in a few weeks than he had in the previous three years. Gallatin was seen waiting on him. Madison went to see him. Was it because of their feelings about Hamilton's demise? No. The reason was that they were about to start the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase, over which Burr, as president of the Senate, would preside. Burr would have to make a thousand rulings about which questions could be asked, what evidence could be introduced and so on, and they wanted to be sure he was on their side. However, Burr conducted the case with exemplary fairness. Chase was acquitted. To top it off, there was a tied vote in the Senate over whether to create a military academy. Burr opposed the administration and voted no to that as well.
January 22, 2018
Excellent review of Burr's life up until his life-altering "interview" with Hamilton at Weehawken, NJ. Burr is revealed as less a scoundrel, and more a pragmatic politician, who made some fatally bad decisions and earned enemies from among the most distinguished men of his times. This is volume 1 of 2.
December 4, 2020
I was looking for another book to read to get a different perspective on Aaron Burr, and WOW! I found 305 different books about him on the Internet. I read several of their reviews and then ordered this one through library loan at our local library. Some book reviews picture him in a negative light, others in a positive light--most agree that he was both a patriot and a scoundrel. Interestingly one book review compared Hamilton and Burr saying all positives about Hamilton and degraded Burr. It said Hamilton was open, frank, a warmhearted romantic, an idealist with a passion to serve his country. It said Burr had no passion for service. Burr was reserved, devious, clear minded, who would compromise principle if it served his ambition or pride. Since Burr is in my family tree, I felt a bit defensive. This was not a good discussion of Burr's character.
This book by Milton Lomask is generally favorable to Aaron Burr, but goes through how many others have dealt with his excessive ambition calling him morally obtuse, a political opportunist, politically inept and fatally unsuspicious. This book was written by a lawyer, Nat Schachner in 1961. Mr. Schnachner wrote many biographies of famous Americans and by the way, he was Isaac Asimov's favorite author.
This book by Milton Lomask is generally favorable to Aaron Burr, but goes through how many others have dealt with his excessive ambition calling him morally obtuse, a political opportunist, politically inept and fatally unsuspicious. This book was written by a lawyer, Nat Schachner in 1961. Mr. Schnachner wrote many biographies of famous Americans and by the way, he was Isaac Asimov's favorite author.
March 24, 2022
Thorough and objective coverage of America's charismatic and mysterious character.
June 10, 2023
Oddly touching
July 29, 2011
This is the first volume (1979) of Milton Lomask's two-volume biography of Aaron Burr. It's well researched and sourced, but the writing is only average. The volume covers all facets (personal, political, etc) of Burr's life fairly well and with sufficient depth.
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November 26, 2015I HOPE THE MUSICAL WILL INSPIRE AN ACTUALFAX DECENT AARON BURR BIOGRAPHY.
THERE ACTUALFAX IS A DECENT TWO-PART ONE BY LOMASK, WHO LIKES BUT DOESN'T EXCUSE BURR. HOWEVER, IT CAME OUT IN THE 80'S AND IT'S OUT OF PRINT. SOME LIBRARIES AND USED BOOK DEALERS HAVE IT THOUGH.
THERE ACTUALFAX IS A DECENT TWO-PART ONE BY LOMASK, WHO LIKES BUT DOESN'T EXCUSE BURR. HOWEVER, IT CAME OUT IN THE 80'S AND IT'S OUT OF PRINT. SOME LIBRARIES AND USED BOOK DEALERS HAVE IT THOUGH.
September 24, 2011
Burr's younger and more unpredictable years. Not so heavy as he grows from a young man to middle age. Good Read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews